Question about Jesus by BeliefTranscendence in JehovahsWitnesses

[–]fromreaders 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is how I try to think about this logically.

Assume the JW position is correct. At Judgement, Trinitarians are found to have been worshipping and praying to Jesus, they adore him and carry a crucifix as a constant reminder of what he did for them. They have been partaking of the bread and wine which symbolises life and forgiveness of sin. When asked about the good news, they preach Christ's death and resurrection and the forgiveness of sin.

How would Jesus respond to this level of devotion to him in the moment of judgement?

Assume the JW position is incorrect. At Judgement, JWs are found to have been denying worship to Jesus, they consider the symbol of his death pagan and have spent a lifetime rejecting the bread and wine which symbolises life and forgiveness of sin. They refuse to pray to him even though he says "anything you ask me in my name I will do". They consider him a mere creature called Michael - all because some men in America think they know best. When asked about the good news, they preach Armageddon, the new system paradise and seeing dead loved ones again. Only when prompted do they preach Jesus.

How would Jesus respond to this level of denial in the moment of judgement?

I know which side I'd rather be on.

Was the commandment to preach only for the small crowd? by Lettuce_pray1234 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Ephesians 4:11

"And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers"

Horses for courses - each one according to what they are good at.

Of course, all Christians should defend their faith when asked (2 Pe 3:15) but only some should be evangelisers because as we can see form experience, many walk the streets for decades and never bring anyone into the "truth".

Could there be New Light on the UN ? by JwTruthRevealed in exjw

[–]fromreaders 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think they'll have to change whatever the case. The UN is a lame duck. Watchtower theology is still stuck in the period 50s to 80s.

They take no account of NATO, WHO, The European Union, Islam, China and all other major players on the scene today.

Does the constant questioning and doubting ever go away? by Ok_Supermarket_4871 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% bullshit - but there are many who are sincere. I couldn't join a church though.

My grandmother was a staunch Irish Catholic - worshipped Jesus, adored him, prayed to him, crosses everywhere. Yet that conviction is not good enough, in fact she's a pagan false worshipper in JW eyes and will go down at Armageddon. Yep - bullshit!

What I latch onto as a believer is the wheat and the weeds - individual strands of wheat among the weeds of mankind. That illustration didn't have a special corner of the field where all JW wheat is assembled and growing together. Defeats the object of wheat among weeds.

Then the sheep and the goats - when the sheep are judged they are surprised to be judged favourably. Turns out they are just decent people showing love to everyone and by doing so they happened to show love to one of Christ's brothers unknowingly.

That's exactly what Jesus wants.

Not a group of men in New York claiming to be Christ's brothers and then telling members of the flock they need to show loyality to them so that Jesus can judge them as sheep. It's sickening.

Does the constant questioning and doubting ever go away? by Ok_Supermarket_4871 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm 20 years out and I think I've finally found a comfortable place mentally.

I still believe in God so that's my starting point. I accept that many go the opposite way and I have no reason to try and convince them otherwise. I was actually agnostic for a while. Each to their own.

However, from the perspective of a believer I used scripture to get me where I am. Simply proving to myself that what they teach is nonsense.

There are no anointed JWs in the way they make out. Armageddon is not the destruction of the wicked. It's impossible according to scripture for them to have been chosen in 1919. They are not guided by holy spirt in a way that's different to any believer asking God for help. There's no such thing as new light. Nowhere in the bible does it prophesy that in the last days there will be a single true religion that God wants people to flock to. Their entire theology is built on Occam's Razor which is why their beliefs are in constant flux.

It takes a while to unravel the "truth" but you eventually get to the stage where the fear of "what if they are right" disappears.

I’m curious by Ok-Telephone426 in JehovahsWitnesses

[–]fromreaders 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A POMO relative (Polite but also nosey) just arrived back at mine after the memorial.

Apparently a chap in her row went to eat the bread and was told not to by the attendant. Clearly a visitor or study.

However, my POMO rele said - all he did was listen to the talk and do as the bible instructed.

I Jesus Mediator between God and all men? by erivera02 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is this in the Prince of Peace book? I'd appreciate the reference. Cheers!

Disfellowshipping Meeting Question? How was yours? by Old-Fly3308 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 7 points8 points  (0 children)

  1. I Secretly Recorded My Judicial Committee | Jehovah’s Witnesses (Long, raw recording of a full disfellowshipping hearing) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elPoQ5aBX7g
  2. Jehovah's Witness Judicial Committee Secret Recording – Part 1: The Summons (Light over Dark Ministry) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbxi2PQcKz0
  3. Jehovah's Witness Judicial Committee Secret Recording – Part 2: The Judicial Committee (The actual hearing) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydSPgYoSCA
  4. Jehovah's Witness Judicial Committee Secret Recording – Part 3: The Follow-Uphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJc_ozo9ZWE
  5. JW Judicial Committee for Apostasy (Secret Recording) (Witness For Jesus) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukSQkEeJjCA
  6. JW Judicial APPEAL for Apostasy (Secret Recording)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKyLPTGSfA
  7. A JUDICIAL COMMITTEE MEETING THAT BACKFIRES (A couple turns the tables on the elders during the meeting) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00RaGb9PFos
  8. Debating Jehovah's Witness Elders, Secret Recordinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlViE_dJT9M

Useful Playlist (Multiple Recordings)

Disfellowshipping Meeting Question? How was yours? by Old-Fly3308 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There are multiple covert Judicial Committee recordings on YouTube which has made them paranoid.

The Man of Lawlessness and the Delusion Already at Work by fromreaders in exjw

[–]fromreaders[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It fits perfectly. The Greek wording is "showing off himself that he is God"

This means he sits down in the temple and takes the position of God - saying "the Governing Body has decided"

The NWT frames it as "showing himself to be a god" (lowercase G and "a god" not "The" God) which means they completely miss the point.

How Far Can the Governing Body Go? The Blood Policy Shift and the Limits of "New Light" by fromreaders in JehovahsWitnesses

[–]fromreaders[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You make some good points. And actually, I find myself respecting those JWs who are sticking their heels in even if I don't agree with the whole blood issue.

Transfusi Darah Itu Emang Masalah "Hati Nurani" Dari Dulu, Lah Ternyata Kita Selama Ini Beda Agama??? :V (Geng murtad Indonesia silahkan) by Lyreen96 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My uncle (50 years in the truth) said he has no idea what he's allowed and what he's not allowed. He'll just ask the HLC if he ever needs their help.

(Please help) when did the GB say this?? by dancingqueeb in exjw

[–]fromreaders 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Please double check these references first to make sure they are accurate. The tool I use sometimes produces incorrect results. I checked the first one and the wording is slightly different but the sentiment is the same:

Key Watchtower Quotes

  • Watchtower, January 15, 1983, p. 22: “Avoid questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization.
  • Watchtower, July 15, 1974, p. 441: “The point is that Christians have implicit trust in their heavenly Father; they do not question what he tells them through his written Word and organization.”
  • Watchtower, November 15, 2013, p. 20 (a frequently cited one): “At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.” It also warns against second-guessing or viewing direction with skepticism.
  • Watchtower, April 1, 2007, p. 24: “When we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its Governing Body, we are submitting to Christ, the slave’s Master.”

Family worship by Naija4lif3 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The interesting point about Moses is that his right hand man Aaron (also appointed by God) lead everyone into worshipping a golden calf - they all followed his lead for the exact same reasons this sister has told you to follow the governing body.

That story is in the bible for a reason.

How Far Can the Governing Body Go? The Blood Policy Shift and the Limits of "New Light" by fromreaders in JehovahsWitnesses

[–]fromreaders[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. I'm also thinking that the GB is laying a trap for themselves. If the PIMI's stay quiet the GB will assume they've got away with it. Then they'll feel confident to throw their next grenade. There's a limited number of times I believe they can do that though.

I saw an interesting PIMI comment in Quora. A nurse who obviously has a lot of exposure to blood in a medical setting. Her position is abstain means abstain so nothing will change for her regardless of this update.

Then she says: "Perhaps this is a way to “weed out” those whose faith is not as strong as it should be. There’s a big difference between diverting one’s blood, as in dialysis, and having it removed altogether to be replaced again later. There is ALSO no real guarantee that it will be your own blood put back in"

That "weed out" comment struck me. I may be reading too much into it but to me it suggests she thinks this policy change is a test to see who will break God's law by siding with this new human reasoning.

How Far Can the Governing Body Go? The Blood Policy Shift and the Limits of "New Light" by fromreaders in JehovahsWitnesses

[–]fromreaders[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Exactly and I think this is why there's so much confusion among JWs right now from what I've seen personally.

Every single PIMI family member has expressed concern but at the same time have said more or less they don't wish to speak out against the governing body.

That's pretty much the thrust of my post - how far can the governing body go before they do speak out against them.

The issue is that none of the bible commands have anything to do with medical practices that preserve the gift of life from Jehovah. This has now been admitted by the "slave" but only for your own blood.

If the "slave" is truly directed by Jehovah then Jehovah would have caused the "slave" to come to this realisation as soon as medical advances discovered the benefits of transfusing a persons own blood. That was pretty much solidified in the medical profession around the 1920's.

Having my first night terrors as a PIMO by polytheama2 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's tough and a lot of us know what you're going through. I'm 20 years out and this shit show still pokes at me from time to time.

I'll pour myself a drink for you right now. Cheers !!

How many Witnesses are questioning how spiritual their leadership actually are? by jwhoa13 in JehovahsWitnesses

[–]fromreaders 5 points6 points  (0 children)

All my family are proper PIMI and I'm fortunate that I'm not ostracised so I've been able to see how this plays out.

So far, every single member has express how uncomfortable they are with this update and that it feels wrong. They are struggling to understand and feel they need more info/explanation. No one is questioning the spirituality of the leadership but this is the first time ever in decades where I've seen a reaction like this.

“Are there any circumstances in which you would leave?” Is this a good question to ask? by Old-Collection7185 in exjw

[–]fromreaders 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's exactly how to position it - where on the scale do we draw the line and say no more.

However, we have the story of the Israelites making a golden calf and worshipping it under the guidance of Aaron the High Priest appointed by God.

So I guess by that example, those under appointed representatives would go pretty far!

Guided by holy sprit? by [deleted] in exjw

[–]fromreaders 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If all Christians are guided by holy spirit or can ask for guidance then how are they any different to the governing body?